Judge, Lawyers, To Meet In Pennsylvania Same-Sex Marriage Case

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawyers in a court challenge to Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage are slated to meet with a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge John Jones and attorneys for both sides were expected to discuss possible trial dates and other scheduling matters in Wednesday’s meeting in Harrisburg.

The lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriages was filed in July on behalf of 23 men, women and children, the first in a growing number of legal challenges to the law.

At issue is a 1996 amendment to Pennsylvania’s marriage law that defines marriage as a civil contract between “one man and one woman.” Pennsylvania also does not recognize legal same-sex marriages entered in other states.

It is the only northeastern state where same-sex marriages or civil unions are not legal.